Fig mania! Need feeding advice!

[gritsar]

The figs are slowly but surely ripening and boy! do the chooks know it. If I go anywhere near the fig tree, they all run over and beg.
They adore them so much I hate to deny them. So, how many figs is okay for 14 LF birds and how often?

 

[FrenchHen]

I dunno, but I have a fig question. How much work are fig trees? Can I just plant it and get fruit or are they fussy?

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I'm not sure I know the answer. This one was planted by my DH's late grandma and I don't do anything to it, but it's loaded down with figs each year. This year it seems to have more figs than ever, but so do the peach and apple trees. It's huge, very tall and probably should be cut back. I guess a yearly pruning would be a good idea.
Everything that my DH's mama and/or grandma planted on this farm is huge! I filled a 2 gallon bucket to the top with figs in one day last year!

 

[ChickensInTheNorthWoods]

I will have to sample the figs before I can give you an accurate amount that is safe for your chickens!

I love figs - I am lucky enough to have gotten "babies" from my cousin's tree's. I live in the North East so they are planted in a large planter that can be moved indoors during the cold months. I keep them trimmed under 6' and so I can handle moving them in and out. There is nothing like a fresh fig. I think they are easy to care for despite being unable to plant them outdoors.

 

[gritsar]

I need to get pics of this one to post. It is really the main tree and all its offspring. I want to weedeat before pics though. Also, the hisbiscus bush that his mama planted, well over 12 ft. tall this year. Great home for all the hummingbirds.

 

[ChickensInTheNorthWoods]

I would love to see a pic of a mature fig tree. I love their big leaves and can only imagine the shade they must provide on a full size tree.

 

[gritsar]

Okay, just for you here's two pics of the fig tree(s) that I ran out and took. The metal building it's growing against is our well house and the building is about 12 ft. high. I had to take two pics, because the tree covers two sides of the building:

 

[cgmccary]

I have a large fig tree growing in the run and I let them eat all they want. I also have a persimmon tree nearby and they love those. Since both are once a year/ seasonal, I don't see the harm in letting them eat all they want (or can get to)-- as I pick some on the higher branches for fig preserves.

 

[gritsar]

That makes sense cgmccary. Thanks!
There are plenty of persimmons trees in the "chicken's woods", but they aren't too crazy about them. They'll eat them when they can't find something better.